Epidural Hematoma in a Patient with Undiagnosed Vitamin K Deficiency: A Case Report

A 72 year old man presented for colostomy repair prompting epidural catheter placement for pain management. A prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) coupled with degenerative spine disease were noted prior to placement. Postoperatively, he developed shortness of breath and leg weakness. This impelled a computed tomography (CT) scan for pulmonary embolism (PE) evaluation, which revealed an epidural hematoma. Stable neurologic findings prompted conservative management. In conclusion, 1) prolongation in aPTT should prompt consideration before neuraxial procedures, 2) vitamin K deficiency is a risk factor for epidural hematoma, and 3) hematoma management should be dictated by progression of neurologic findings.

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Placental Transfer of Vitamin K1 and Its Implications in Fetal Hemostasis

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1647631 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 60 (01) ◽

pp. 039-043 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

L Mandelbrot ◽

M Guillaumont ◽

M Leclercq ◽

J J Lefrère ◽

D Gozin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin K ◽

High Performance ◽

Ultrasound Guidance ◽

Placental Transfer ◽

Vitamin K1 ◽

Vitamin K Deficiency ◽

Prothrombin Activity ◽

Oral Supplementation ◽

K Deficiency ◽

The Mean

SummaryVitamin K status was evaluated using coagulation studies and/ or vitamin IQ assays in a total of 53 normal fetuses and 47 neonates. Second trimester fetal blood samples were obtained for prenatal diagnosis under ultrasound guidance. Endogenous vitamin K1 concentrations (determined by high performance liquid chromatography) were substantially lower than maternal levels. The mean maternal-fetal gradient was 14-fold at mid trimester and 18-fold at birth. Despite low vitamin K levels, descarboxy prothrombin, detected by a staphylocoagulase assay, was elevated in only a single fetus and a single neonate.After maternal oral supplementation with vitamin K1, cord vitamin K1 levels were boosted 30-fold at mid trimester and 60 fold at term, demonstrating placental transfer. However, these levels were substantially lower than corresponding supplemented maternal levels. Despite elevated vitamin K1 concentrations, supplemented fetuses and neonates showed no increase in total or coagulant prothrombin activity. These results suggest that the low prothrombin levels found during intrauterine life are not due to vitamin K deficiency.

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Kinetic Aspects of the Interaction of Blood-Clotting Enzymes

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1651250 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 20 (01/02) ◽

pp. 078-087 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

H. C Hemker ◽

A. D Muller

Keyword(s):

Vitamin K ◽

Blood Clotting ◽

Experimental Results ◽

Factor X ◽

Clotting Factors ◽

Vitamin K Deficiency ◽

K Deficiency

SummaryPIVKA, the circulating anticoagulant protein found in vitamin K deficiency can, on kinetical grounds, be recognized as an analogue of factor X. The existence of analogues of other vitamin K-dependent clotting factors cannot be ruled out, but need not be assumed to explain the experimental results.

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